WASHINGTON (CNN) -With the end still out of sight, President Obama wrapped up a big victory in the lame duck session of Congress this week, while also issuing a long awaited review of the war in Afghanistan.

Washington (CNN) - The late night House vote to pass Bush-era tax cuts was a big victory for President Obama, but it was greeted with muted celebration.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said he wasn’t awake at the time. “I think some of us were…certainly asleep,” he said. “Asleep?” a stunned reporter asked. “Yes,” Gibbs responded.

It was a low key evening for the president as well who apparently wasn’t following the vote in the final hours.

A White House official said Phil Schiliro, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, emailed him “around midnight” with news that the bill had passed. At the time the president was reading in the private residence.

Unlike other major Obama accomplishments passed by Congress, there was no statement hailing the bill and no senior advisers blanketing the morning network shows. After several attempts to get reaction to the overnight victory, one top aide finally told CNN, the White House was “feeling pretty good” about the vote.FULL POST

WASHINGTON (CNN)– While President Obama may have to delay his trip to Hawaii for his Holiday vacation, Michelle and the girls will still plan on leaving tomorrow, the original departure date for the First Family.

In a statement from the First Lady's office, Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha will fly on Saturday on a smaller aircraft, a C40B, which is considered one of the most efficient planes in the fleet for the long flight to Hawaii. First Dog Bo will also make the trek. President Obama will join them when the Congress is out of session.

WASHINGTON (CNN)– TGIF from the CNN White House Unit!! President Obama has a rather light day on his public schedule. Just a bunch of meetings but the highlight is an afternoon meeting with many labor leaders in the Roosevelt Room. That's closed to the press but maybe some of the leaders might brave the cold to come out to speak at the stakeout.

Of course, we're keeping our eye out to any important details about when POTUS might sign the tax bill. That could happen later this afternoon. We'll keep you posted when that happens. FULL POST

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OTR

Category: Thing

Some presidential movements are OTR, or off-the-record, to the public and press until the president's motorcade arrives at the previously undisclosed location.